My stammer did not stop me from chasing my dream

Abel Kai was the first runner’s up at the Mr and Mrs World Kenya 2018.

Among the challenges the 23-year-old has faced is a stammering condition. He talks to Nation.co.ke.

Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Kakamega County. I came to Nairobi in 2014 to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Statistics at the Technical University of Kenya, and I hope to graduate in December.

I am a sales executive with FCL Africa, which deals with supplements and vitamins. I like working out, swimming, and going out.

When did you realise you were interested in modelling?

Back in 2014 when I joined the university. Seeing models on billboards and in magazines really sparked an interest in me, but I didn’t know how to start or where to start from.

I met Mr. Technical University at the time and told him that I wanted him to mentor me. He told me I should start with the university competitions, just as he did; and he started training me.

I was young and skinny, and not really built as a model. (Laughs). I was also not as confident then because I stammer.

I competed in the annual pageant in 2015 but lost because the judges misinterpreted my stammering for lack of confidence. But being among the top five finalists motivated me to keep trying. I started doing the few fashion runway events I could get.

But getting jobs in high fashion auditions became difficult because I did not have the right look. On the other hand, I could not get pageant shows because my stammering was mistakenly assumed to be lack of confidence. Speech matters a lot with this type of modelling.

How have you been able to overcome this challenge?

The stammering left me with self-esteem issues, but over the years I have learnt to accept myself as I am. It is a part of me and nothing can take it away.

What other challenges do you face in the modelling industry?

I have been trying to get into commercial modelling for two years now but I have not gotten a call back. The good thing with commercial modelling is that it does not require a lot of speech.

Not understanding what the clients want really demotivates me.

Modelling is also a crowded industry and sometimes some people exploit models. There are a number of shows I have done this year but I am yet to be paid.

Refusing to do a show because of poor pay means that another person will be willing to take the job, no matter how little the pay is.

What about the highlights of your modelling career?

Definitely being the first runner’s up in the Mr World Kenya competition this year.

Before the pageant, I felt I would not proceed far because of my stammer. But my friends and family believed in me.

We had a prejudging show a day before the main show and we had to introduce ourselves to the judges.

I told them that I stammered but still believed I could win. I think they were impressed because they started asking more questions, like what I would do if I won the competition. This boosted my confidence greatly.

Motivational speaker Robert Burale, who was a judge at the competition, approached me after the prejudging show and encouraged me to believe that I could do anything I set my mind to.

Even though I didn’t win, I was grateful for the experience and opportunity.

Where do you want to be in five years?

On a billboard somewhere. (Laughs).

I do not wish to continue with runway modelling because of the exploitation and poor pay. Something that I have learnt is that one has to always know their standards to avoid being exploited.

Any last words?

Clients should avoid exploiting models because everyone is trying to make a living.

Also, I encourage everyone to believe in themselves despite any disability or condition that they think puts them at a disadvantage.